An Ohio woman says she is facing charges after saving a starving dog.Rhonda Rose, who works at the Scioto Area Humane Society in Portsmouth, told WCMHthat the dog was so emaciated, it had lost half of its body weight. Eight days after she fed the dog, took it to the vet and called the sheriff’s office for help, she was charged with criminal trespass and petty theft. “When I took the dog I took it to the vet and the vet verified it was starvation,” Rose said.Ohio law does allow any person to enter and remove an animal if they suspect neglect.“Even as a private citizen, Ms. Rose was within that statutory privilege in removing the animal she removed,” said John Bell, Rose’s defense attorney.Capt. Robert Woodward with the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office refused to answer questions about why Rose was charged, saying the case was ongoing. The city solicitor, John Haas, refused to discuss the issue but stated that Rose has a history with the court system. WCMH reports Rose has been involved with four past civil cases, but none were marked as animal cases.Rose said she did the right thing.“The dog is now in Kentucky on a 100-acre farm, gained weight, it weighed 61 pounds, it now weighs 120 pounds and is doing great,” said Rose.More than a dozen protesters showed up at the Portsmouth Municipal Courthouse to protest Rose being charged.

PORTSMOUTH, Ohio —

An Ohio woman says she is facing charges after saving a starving dog.

Advertisement

Rhonda Rose, who works at the Scioto Area Humane Society in Portsmouth, told WCMHthat the dog was so emaciated, it had lost half of its body weight.

Eight days after she fed the dog, took it to the vet and called the sheriff’s office for help, she was charged with criminal trespass and petty theft.

“When I took the dog I took it to the vet and the vet verified it was starvation,” Rose said.

Ohio law does allow any person to enter and remove an animal if they suspect neglect.

“Even as a private citizen, Ms. Rose was within that statutory privilege in removing the animal she removed,” said John Bell, Rose’s defense attorney.

Capt. Robert Woodward with the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office refused to answer questions about why Rose was charged, saying the case was ongoing. The city solicitor, John Haas, refused to discuss the issue but stated that Rose has a history with the court system.

WCMH reports Rose has been involved with four past civil cases, but none were marked as animal cases.

Rose said she did the right thing.

“The dog is now in Kentucky on a 100-acre farm, gained weight, it weighed 61 pounds, it now weighs 120 pounds and is doing great,” said Rose.

More than a dozen protesters showed up at the Portsmouth Municipal Courthouse to protest Rose being charged.